Flush tank and bowl combination



Aug. 29,1950 H. F. SMITH I FLUSH TANK AND BOWL COMBINATION Filed Nov. 4, 1948 INVENTOR. HARE) FOED SN/TH TTOENEYS i atenteci Aug. 29,

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUSH TANK AND BOWL COMBINATION Harry 'Ford Smith, Lexington, Ohio, assignor to Mansfield Sanitary Pottery, Inc., Pcrrysville, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 4, 1948,, Serial No. 58,342

(OLA-J2) 9 Claim.

This n ent n la es ge e lly t flush a andibqwl combinations and particularly to such a, combination in which a combined spud and valve'seat' serves not only the functions of a spud and a valve seat but also serves as a means for remi t ng eady nd eas j stm of the tank for leveling the tank and aligning its outt pa sa e w the inlet pa e of th b -v prior "flush tank and bowl combinations it hasheen comm n o st h a k e tly on the bowl. and. to use a gasket to seal the water p ss ge r m on o th oth r nd to use a parate valve seat for the flush valve. Since it was praetica lly impossible to make bowls and tanks entireiyfree from warpage and uneven surfaces, 17116133111; could seldom he made level and there was nq ,rneansior ready leveling or adjustment of the tank. Moreover, the use of separate spuds and valve seats necessitated multiplicity of parts and this number was increased if and when shims were provided for use between the tank and bowl.

The presentinvention provides a new combined spud and valve'seat which permits ready positioning of the tank relative to but out of direct contact with the bowl, makes possible the levelingofthe tank without the use of shims and rea dl s f a ase or un ven sur ace o th n a ow als, a ainst l ak g te o e pa g fr m tank t bow nd ct as a seat for the flush valve,

In-the drawings attached hereto and forming a part o th s specificat Fig.1 is a fragmentary topplan view of a tank and bowl combination embodying the present invention andincludinga new spud and seat constituting a part of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the combined spud and seat.

In s 1 and 2, thebowl I is provided with a waterinlet passage 2 defined by an annular surface 3, which may be cpnisal or spherically shaped, and with a"'lip'4 extending upwardly from the top of the bowl and parallel with the front wall of the tank, and with an outwardly projecting flange 5 which is partly cut away and is undercut to form a recess 6. Tank 1 is positioned over bowl i, has an outlet passage 8 in its bottom wall to be aligned with the bowl inlet passage 2 and is provided with a plurality of securing means, in this case three bolts I0, extending through the bottom of the tank. The side bolts extend through flange 5 while the 2, middle or rear bolt is p vided with a clip [I which seats in recess 6 and a nut IE to bear against the clip.

- The combined spud and valve seat #5 is annular and is preferably composed of resilient material, for example-rubber. it has an outer surface lG near its lower end which is preferably shaped to correspond with surface 3. It has an enlarged outwardly extending, flange-like portion between-its ends to press against the lower surface of the bottem wall of tank 1 and it has an upper cylindrical end portion I8 to project into the passage 8 through the bottom wall of the tank to align that passage with passage 3 of the bowl. The upper end surface of annulus 5 is preferably rounded, as at [9, to form an initial line contact with a flush valve 20.

As illustrated, the flush valve 20 is a resilient cup having a conical outer surface to engage the surface IQ of the spud I5 and is mounted on a refill pipe 2|. It will be understood however, that any other valve capableof cooperating with an annulus to form a seal for a flush tank may be used in place of the valve 20.

In assembling the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and just described, the combined spud and valve seat I5 is laced With its lower outer surface It resting-on surface 3 of the bowl, and the tank is placed on annulus [E with flange ll engaging the bottom surface'of the tank and end portion l8 projecting into passage-8. Bolts it are assembled with the tank and bowl and the clip H is pressed into recess 6 by nut l2. If the tank is not level atthis stage of the assembly, it is leveled manually by rocking the tank to one side or the other, or forwarder backward. The member l5 shifts with the tank as its position is changed relative to bowl I, articularly when surface 3 of the bowl and surface it of the annulus are segments of spherical surfaces of substantially the same radii. When the tank is level, the nuts IZ -are tightened on'bolts H3 and the flange ll of member 1 5 is compressed between the tank and bowl and seals the water passage from the tank into the bowl against escape of liquid between these two parts. Since the annulus spaces the bowl and tank apart it serves as a resilient support for the tank which not only compensates for warpage of, or uneven surfaces on, either the tank or bowl, but also absorbs shocks in use. If the tank should be shifted out of its level position in use, it may readily be readjusted by simply loosening nuts l2, re-leveling the tank and then tightening the nuts.

Having thus described the present invention so that others skilled in the art may be able to understand and practice the same, I state that what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An integral spud and valve seat to serve as a supporting spacer for a flush tank and bowl combination comprising a resilient annulus having a central portion, a lower end portion having a downwardly converging outer surface to'extend into a water inlet opening of the bowl, and an upper end portion to extend into a water outlet opening of the tank and having an upper end surface shaped to constitute a seat for a flush valve.

2. An integral spud and valve seat to serve as a supporting spacer for a fiush tank and bowl combination comprising a resilient annulus having a central portion, a lower end portion having a downwardly converging outer surface to extend into a water inlet opening of the bowl, and a cylindrical upper end portion to extend into a water outlet opening of the tank and having an upperend surface shaped to constitute a seat for ailush valve.

3. An integral spud and valve seat to serve as a supporting spacer for a flush tank and bowl combination comprising a resilient annulus having a central portion, a lower end portion having a downwardly converging convex outer surface to extend into a water inlet opening of the bowl, and a cylindrical upper end portion to extend into a water outlet opening of the tank and having an upper end surface shaped to constitute a seat for a flush valve.

4. An integral spud and valve seat to serve as a supporting spacer for a flush tank and bowl combination comprising a resilient annulus having a central portion with an outwardly projecting flange to rest on the said bowl and support and space the tank therefrom, a lower end portion, having a downwardly converging outer surface to extend into a water inlet opening of the bowl, and an upper end portion to extend into a water outlet opening of the tank and having an upper end surface shaped to constitute a seat for a flush valve.

5. A flush tank and bowl combination comprising a bowl having a water inlet opening defined by an annular surface, a tank having a water outlet opening, a resilient annulus havin a downwardly converging outer surface near its lower end to seat on said annular surface about said inlet opening and permit leveling of said tank, a cylindrical upper portion to extend into and align said water outlet opening with said inlet opening, and adjustable means engaging said tank and bowl for holding said parts in assembled operative position with said annulus.

' 6. A flush tank and bowl combination comprising a bowl having a water inlet opening defined by an annular surface, a tank having a water outlet opening, a resilient annulus having, a downwardly converging outer surface near its lower end to seat on said annular surface about said inlet opening and permit leveling of said tank, a cylindrical upper portion to extend into and align said water outlet opening with said inlet opening, and a valve seating surface at its upper end, a valve seatable on said seating surface, and adjustable means engaging said tank and bowl for holding said parts in assembled operative position with said annulus.

'7. A flush tank and bowl combination comprising a'bowl having an inlet water opening defined by an annular surface, a tank having a water outlet opening, a resilient annulus having a downwardly converging outer surface near its lower end to seat on said annular surface about said inlet opening and permit leveling of said tank, a cylindrical upper portion to extend into and align said water outlet opening with said inlet opening, and a plurality of bolts and clips engaging said tank and bowl for holdin said parts in assembled operative position with said annulus.

8. A flush tank and bowl combination comprising a bowl having an inlet water opening defined by an annular surface, and a ledge having an upwardly extending'recess in its rear portion, a tank having a water outlet opening, a resilient annulus having a downwardly converging outer surface near its lower end to seat on said annular surface about said inlet opening and permit leveling of said tank, an intermediate outwardly projecting portion to bear against the lower surface of said tank about said outlet opening, a cylindrical upper portion to extend into and align said water outlet opening with said inlet opening, and adjustable means for holding said parts in assembled operative position with said annulus, said means including bolts arranged in a circle about 120 apart, certain of said bolts extending through said ledge and one bolt having a clip engaging in said upwardly extending recess.

9. A flush tank and bowl combination compris ing a bowl havin an inlet water opening defined by an annular surface, a tank having a water outlet opening, a resilient annulus having a downwardly converging outer surface near its lower end to seat on said annular surface and to permit leveling of said tank, .a cylindrical upper portion to extend into and align. the said outlet opening with said inlet opening, said upper portion having a valve seating surface at its upper end, a valve seatable on said seating surface, and means engaging said tank and bowl for holding said parts in assembled operative position with each other and with said annulus. HARRY FORD SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED Number Name Date Magowan Sept. 4, 1906'. 

